Top Ten Posts of 2016

I covered a lot of ground in 2016, and I am grateful to all who read my posts and offered feedback.  Here is a list of the ten most popular posts I wrote in 2016:

Mastery or Ignorance?  This post discusses the role of innovation and the disruption it causes in the success (or lack thereof) of investing in various industries.

Mastery or Ignorance, Part II  Following on the theme of the initial post in this series, Part II discusses some of the characteristics of consumer staple stocks that may have contributed to their superior performance, historically speaking.

Most of What You Probably Think About Investing Is Wrong  From rising rates being a negative for long-term bond returns, to buying at significant market peaks, this post shatters popular myths about investing.

Stocks for the Long Run?  This post discusses the popular misconception that stocks are always and everywhere a successful investment, and lays out a few reasons why the success of Anglo-Saxon markets in particular has been somewhat exceptional.

Why Currency Hedging of Foreign Equities Hurts Diversification  This post discusses why trying to eliminate the currency factor from your international investments probably does more harm to your portfolio in the long run as it strips your foreign holdings of some useful diversification benefits.

You Can’t Have the Creative Without the Destruction In this post, I discuss the necessary roles both bear markets and recessions play in laying the foundation for future bull markets and economic growth.

The Price of Prestige  More philosophical in nature, this post discusses the foolishness of many of our actions that are done only with the hope of raising our perceived stature in the eyes of others.

What the Military Can Teach Us About Investing  This is a fun post about how some basic military principles (I’m no expert, but I am an armchair general) can be useful if applied to investing.

The Somewhat Overlooked Coal Bubble  Bubbles can form in any market, and, while not as widely discussed or perhaps not as destructive to wealth as the tech and financial bubbles, the coal bubble was spectacular in its own right.

Not All Stock Markets Are The Same  This article discusses the differences in major stock markets around the world, and shows that most global stock markets are similar only in appearance.

Thanks for reading this year!